Easter in Ordinary

This year, I have read a handful of extraordinary books on race: Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow: Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness , Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (which I will profile soon), and, most recently, john a. powell's Racing to Justice: Transforming Our Conceptions of Self and Other to Build an Inclusive Society . The three authors, all attorneys, write at length about the criminal justice system and the courts. As well, all three authors tell a story with the power to upend a comfortable world-view. With a shelf full of publications and a 32-page curriculum vitae, john a. powell (spelled without capitals) is a scholar in the areas of civil rights and civil liberties and a host of issues including race, structural racism, ethnicity, housing, poverty, and democracy. He is the Executive Director of the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to dua

Written prior to his death on November 11, 2013, Dark Light of Love was the 23rd book by Fr. John S. Dunne, C.S.C. Personally, Fr. Dunne was a teacher, a mentor, a spiritual guide, and a friend. (See also my post: Journey of the Heart's Desire: The Heart Comes Home .) When I returned from Chile, amid great personal distress, to begin a time of healing and a search for my next steps, this book was one of a handful that accompanied me. Reading the work brought Fr. Dunne's voice back to me, and I appreciated him accompanying me, through this work, amid a difficult period. John, to be less formal, wrote his books a paragraph a day. Each morning, he would write one paragraph and the first sentence of the next paragraph. His prayer and heartfelt reflection would lead him the next morning to write the subsequent paragraph and first sentence. I lived with him two summers as he wrote. Like clockwork, he would take a sabbatical to write every fourth year, even if he did not need it

As customary, I post four articles that I found significant and a poem. Our lives are enriched by seeing better. Each week, one article comes from the world of photography, a discipline that is about seeing. Another article comes from the world of technology, hence seeing something of the future. Another article takes up an aspect of our life together, seeing more clearly the other. Another article refers to faith, seeing the unseen. Finally, the weekly post concludes with a poem, because poetry is about seeing words whose arrangement allows us to see anew. Today is the Feast of St. James the Great, Apostle. I was privileged to be able to walk the Camino de Santiago twice with my father, in 2010 and 2014. It was just over a year ago that we completed our second pilgrimage . Santiago, Apóstol, ruega por nosotros. This week, I recommend the following articles: The best camera is the one you have with you . Mike Moats daily provides insights into the world of macro photog

Mature, public conversation about issues that matter is foundational for democratic society. I am delighted that Mark Zuckerberg's " A Year of Books " offers such an opportunity. To contribute to that dialog, I will offer commentary on each of the readings proposed by Zuckerberg. It was Bill Gates who initially exposed me to the work of Vaclav Smil. In Gates' recommendations for " Beach Reading (and More) ," Microsoft's founder suggested Smil's latest work while also noting his long affection for Smil's writing in his review of the book: I can’t think of anyone better equipped to present a clear-eyed analysis of this subject than Vaclav Smil. I have written several times before about how much I admire Smil’s work. When he tackles a subject, he doesn’t look at just one piece of it. He examines every angle. Even if I don’t agree with all of his conclusions, I always learn a lot from reading him. When Mark Zuckerberg made Smil's Energy:

As customary, I post four articles that I found significant and a poem. Our lives are enriched by seeing better. Each week, one article comes from the world of photography, a discipline that is about seeing. Another article comes from the world of technology, hence seeing something of the future. Another article takes up an aspect of our life together, seeing more clearly the other. Another article refers to faith, seeing the unseen. Finally, the weekly post concludes with a poem, because poetry is about seeing words whose arrangement allows us to see anew. This week, the four articles urge an appropriate space for science in our concepts, in our politics, in our faith, and in our gazing. Poetry reminds us, however, of a deeper contemplation of the mysteries that surround us, mysteries that bring us to "perfect silence." If the Moon were only 1 Pixel . This was another big week in science. In addition to seismic research suggesting an enormous threat to the Pacifi

Weekly, I post four articles that I found significant, meaningful and a poem. Our lives are enriched by seeing better. One article likely will come from the world of photography, a discipline that is about seeing. Another article will come from the world of technology, hence seeing something of the future. Another article will take up some aspect of our life together, seeing more clearly the other. Another article will be directed to faith, seeing the unseen. Finally, the weekly post will conclude with a poem, because poetry is about seeing words whose arrangement allows us to see anew. A Common Date for Easter? There are many things that we take for granted in life, not knowing all that happens behind the scenes. For most folks, to know the date of Easter is simply to look at a calendar without awareness of the details behind establishing this movable feast. In general, it can be said that Christianity, since the Council of Nicaea in 325, celebrates Easter on the first Su

Mark Zuckerberg's " A Year of Books " offers an opportunity for considered dialog around a series of readings. To this point, the readings were mostly selected from the social sciences, although the book at hand represents an exception from that trend. For each book, I offer a commentary so as to participate in the dialog prompted by this reading series. To be honest, I have not read a work of science fiction in a very long time. In fact, the last would have been the last science fiction works would have been in the late 1990s, Mary Doria Russell's great The Sparrow and its sequel Children of God . It has been so long, I had forgotten how enjoyable science fiction can be! Mark Zuckerberg's latest selection is The Player of Games by the late Iain M. Banks . Banks, a Scottish author of fiction. science fiction, and non-fiction died in June of 2013. T he Player of Games , a 1988 work, is the second of nine works in the Culture Series . Wikipedia describes the

Happy Fourth of July! Weekly, I post four articles that I found significant, meaningful and a poem. Our lives are enriched by seeing better. One article likely will come from the world of photography, a discipline that is about seeing. Another article will come from the world of technology, hence seeing something of the future. Another article will take up some aspect of our life together, seeing more clearly the other. Another article will be directed to faith, seeing the unseen. Finally, the weekly post will conclude with a poem, because poetry is about seeing words whose arrangement allows us to see anew. Amid the flags, parades, cookouts, and fireworks of this weekend, I submit four articles and a poem for your consideration. Extend Zadroga as long as 9/11 heroes need . While we salute the flag, let's not forget those who made that possible. We have an obligation to care for those who have sacrificed for us. Be sure to read this editorial about an important bill that, i